A self-employed gas fitter has been jailed after working on gas appliances while unregistered.

Manchester Crown Court heard that in November 2014, Mr Richard Goldthorpe was served a Prohibition Notice by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) banning him from carrying out gas work unless he gained the necessary competence and registered with the Gas Safe Register.

An investigation by HSE subsequently found that between 3 March 2018 and 22 March 2019, Mr Goldthorpe undertook work on gas appliances at seven addresses across England. On one occasion, he used a false name. His unsafe work featured on the BBC Watchdog programme.

Several defects were found on each gas appliance worked on by Mr Goldthorpe, including incomplete and defective flue joints, flues not sealed to building structures, and the dangerous decommissioning of a back boiler; all the defects identified posed safety risks for the homeowners and their families.

Richard Goldthorpe, of Irwin Road, St Helens pleaded guilty to:

• Seven separate offences under Section 3 (2) of the Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974
• One offence under Regulation 3 (3) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998
• One offence under Regulation 3 (7) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998
• One offence under Section 33(1) (g) of the Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

Whilst on bail awaiting sentence, Mr Goldthorpe undertook further gas work whilst unregistered and subsequently pleaded guilty to two additional offences; one under Regulation 3 (3) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations and one under Section 33(1) (g) of the Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

Mr Goldthorpe was jailed for 16 months.

Speaking following the hearing, HSE inspector Anthony Banks commented: “Richard Goldthorpe knowingly defrauded homeowners and purposely misled them into thinking he was registered with Gas Safe Register.

“Mr Goldthorpe had even been warned on national television that he was breaking the law. The work he did was unsafe and he put several families at risk. It is only a matter of chance that no one was seriously harmed.

“All gas work must be done by registered Gas Safe engineers to ensure the highest standards are met to prevent injury and loss of life. The public should always ask to see the gas engineer’s identification and check the registration number online (www.gassaferegister.co.uk) or ring the Gas Safe Register customer helpline 0800 408 5500.”

Notes to Editors:

1. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We prevent work-related death, injury and ill health through regulatory actions that range from influencing behaviours across whole industry sectors through to targeted interventions on individual businesses. These activities are supported by globally recognised scientific expertise. www.hse.gov.uk
2. More about the legislation referred to in this case can be found at: www.legislation.gov.uk/
3. HSE news releases are available at http://press.hse.gov.uk

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A construction company has been fined after a worker fell from a platform causing him to be knocked unconscious and suffer a broken wrist.

Peterlee Magistrates’ Court heard that, on 28 August 2018, during refurbishment work at Old Eldon Farm, Shildon, a site operative fell from a raised platform. The operative was undertaking work to fit rafters to the roof at the Farm, when he fell approximately 2.2 metres to the floor below, knocking him unconscious.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that Greens Property Developments Limited had failed to ensure that, so far as was reasonably practicable, construction work was carried out without risks to health and safety by failing to plan, manage and monitor work at height.

Greens Property Developments Limited of Chester Road, Sunderland, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 13 (1) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 and was fined £18,000 and ordered to pay £25,10.41 costs.

After the hearing HSE inspector, Andrew Woodhall, said: “Falls from height often result in life-changing or fatal injuries. In most cases, these incidents are needless and could be prevented by properly planning, managing and monitoring the work to ensure that effective preventative and protective measures are in place. Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those who fall below the required standards.”

Notes to Editors:

1. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We prevent work-related death, injury and ill health through regulatory actions that range from influencing behaviours across whole industry sectors through to targeted interventions on individual businesses. These activities are supported by globally recognised scientific expertise. www.hse.gov.uk
2. More about the legislation referred to in this case can be found at: www.legislation.gov.uk/
3. HSE news releases are available at http://press.hse.gov.uk

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A packaging company has been fined after an employee was struck by a reversing forklift truck.

Reading Magistrates’ Court heard that on 9 August 2018 an employee, Arthur Weston, working at Boxes and Packaging (Oxford) Limited in Long Crendon, was struck by a reversing forklift truck when he bent down to pick up a broken piece of wood.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found there was inadequate separation of fork lift trucks and pedestrians within the workspace. The unit where the Mr Weston worked was in an unsuitable area right next to the traffic route.

Boxes and Packaging (Oxford) Limited of Drakes Drive, Long Crendon was found guilty of breaching Regulations 4 (1) and 17 (1) of Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992. The company has been fined £10,000.00 and ordered to pay costs of £2,560.00.

Speaking after the hearing inspector, Stephen Faulkner, said: “The Company failed to undertake a number of simple safety measures including segregation of reversing vehicles, from employees.

“Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards.

Notes to Editors:

1. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We prevent work-related death, injury and ill health through regulatory actions that range from influencing behaviours across whole industry sectors through to targeted interventions on individual businesses. These activities are supported by globally recognised scientific expertise. www.hse.gov.uk
2. More about the legislation referred to in this case can be found at: www.legislation.gov.uk/
3. HSE news releases are available at http://press.hse.gov.uk

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A construction company has been fined after a painter and decorator fell from an unprotected landing on the second floor of a house.

Reading Magistrates’ Court heard that, on 28 January 2019, the employee of R A Shayler & Son Limited suffered life changing injuries when he fell from a second floor landing down to the first floor, and then over the unprotected edge and down the stairs to the ground floor in a house in Henley on Thames, Oxfordshire.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that edge protection had been in place prior to the incident but had subsequently been removed. The company had failed to replace the edge protection before the employee was directed to carry out the work.

R A Shayler & Son Limited of Pointer Place, Abingdon pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 6(3) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and has been fined £8,000 and ordered to pay costs of £1,230.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Christopher Gregory said:

“Falls from height remain the most common cause of work-related fatalities and serious injuries in the construction industry, and the risks associated with working at height are well-known.

“Working at height, where open edges remain unprotected even for a short duration, or when accessing and egressing work areas can be particularly dangerous. It is important that those in control of the work identify the risks posed and ensure appropriate control measures are in place at all times to safeguard workers, ensuring that the risks are being controlled so far as is reasonably practicable.”

Notes to Editors:

1. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We prevent work-related death, injury and ill health through regulatory actions that range from influencing behaviours across whole industry sectors through to targeted interventions on individual businesses. These activities are supported by globally recognised scientific expertise. www.hse.gov.uk
2. More about the legislation referred to in this case can be found at: www.legislation.gov.uk/
3. HSE news releases are available at http://press.hse.gov.uk
4. Further information about health and safety when working at height can be found at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/faq-height

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A company that designs, manufactures and distributes construction materials has been fined after an employee suffered serious injuries, resulting in his left arm being amputated.

Loughborough Magistrates’ Court heard that, on 13 August 2017, an employee of Saint-Gobain Construction Products UK Limited was seriously injured when a rock handling belt failed at the company’s plant in Barrow-Upon-Soar, Leicestershire. Two employees had been clearing rock that had built up around the belt; as the belt had become so compacted it was difficult to remove by hand. Both men went to the isolator end of the belt and removed the local isolation with the guards still removed and pressed the ‘start/stop’ button. On checking the tail-end of the drum they saw it had not cleared itself of rock. One of the men went to the opposite side of the tail-end drum to remove the rock and the pair were no longer in visual contact. His colleague pressed the start/stop button again whilst his colleague’s arm was in close proximity to the rotating drum and his arm was drawn in.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found there was no risk assessment or safe system of work in place for clearing rock safely from tail-end drums.

Saint-Gobain Construction Products UK Limited of Binley Business Park, Coventry pled guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and has been fined £400,000 and ordered to pay costs of £12,945.62.

Speaking after the case HSE inspector Michelle Morrison said: “This injury could easily have been prevented, had the risk have been identified. Employers should make sure they properly assess and apply effective control measures to minimise the risk from dangerous parts of machinery”.

Notes to Editors:

1. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We prevent work-related death, injury and ill health through regulatory actions that range from influencing behaviours across whole industry sectors through to targeted interventions on individual businesses. These activities are supported by globally recognised scientific expertise. www.hse.gov.uk
2. More about the legislation referred to in this case can be found at: www.legislation.gov.uk/
3. HSE news releases are available at http://press.hse.gov.uk

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